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Twins Send Young To Rival Tigers

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 16: Delmon Young #21 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI double against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning on July 16, 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Delmon Young. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Tigers got some help for their outfield Monday, acquiring Delmon Young from the division rival Minnesota Twins for a minor league pitcher and a player to be named.

Young doesn’t have far to go to join his new team. The Twins are in Detroit to open a series against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

The Twins received left-hander Cole Nelson from the Tigers.

Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft by Tampa Bay, didn’t become the feared power hitter that the Twins were hoping for when they acquired him in 2008. He was hitting .266 with just four homers and 32 RBIs in 84 games this season.

He’s still only 25, though, and had what was probably his best season in 2010, hitting .298 with 21 home runs.

The first-place Tigers add another potentially big bat to their roster as they try to hold on in the AL Central. They lead Cleveland by 2 1/2 games heading into Monday night’s action.

The Twins are 11 1/2 games back.

Young and the Twins avoided salary arbitration before this season, agreeing in February to a one-year contract worth $5,375,000. He should have a chance to play for the Tigers. Detroit outfielder Brennan Boesch has been recovering from a sprained right thumb, and Magglio Ordonez is hitting only .223 with four home runs.

Nelson was a 10th round pick in 2010. He was 5-11 with a 4.87 ERA in 26 appearances for Class-A Lakeland this season.

The Tigers plan to announce a corresponding roster move to add Young to the 25-man roster before Monday night’s game.

Young has made a couple of trips to the disabled list this season with a strained left oblique and sprained right ankle.